Blue crab is a popular seafood delicacy found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. With its sweet, briny flavor and tender meat, blue crab is truly a treat. However, cooking blue crab properly requires a bit of know-how. In this article, we’ll explore step-by-step instructions on how to clean blue crab before cooking, how to cook and eat blue crab properly.
1. How To Clean Blue Crab Before Cooking
Before diving into the cooking process, it’s essential to start with clean blue crab.
Begin by grabbing the crab from the rear, ensuring you are protected with sturdy gloves to avoid any pinches. Flip the crab onto its back and lift the apron (the triangular flap on the bottom) to reveal the abdomen.
Next, remove the apron by holding it firmly and pulling it away. This step opens up access to the crab’s inner cavity. Remove the carapace (the top shell) by lifting it from the rear end and pulling it off gently.
Now, you will see the gills on each side of the crab. These must be removed as they are not edible. Use a small knife or scissors to cut them away, leaving only the white meat behind.
Lastly, rinse the crab under cold water to eliminate any remaining debris. Your blue crab is now cleaned and ready to be transformed into a mouthwatering dish.
2. How To Steam Blue Crab
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium blue crabs, cleaned
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- Lemon pepper to taste
Instructions
Prepare a large pot with a steamer insert and fill with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
While steam is heating up, rinse blue crabs under cold water and pat dry. Place crabs in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, mix together minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, and lemon pepper. Sprinkle the mixture over the crabs and toss gently to coat.
Once steam is ready, carefully place crabs in steamer basket in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd.
Cover pot with lid and steam crabs for 12-15 minutes. Do not open lid during steaming.
Crabs are fully cooked when shells turn bright reddish-orange. Remove basket from pot.
Transfer steamed crabs to a platter. Serve immediately with melted butter for dipping and lemon wedges.
Enjoy picking apart the hot steamed crabs using small hammers and crab picks. The meat should release cleanly from the shells when perfectly steamed. Dip the sweet meat into lemon butter as you go!
3. How To Boil Blue Crab
Ingredients
- 12 live blue crabs, cleaned and rinsed
- 1 gallon water
- 1/4 cup Cajun crab boil seasoning
- 6 ears of corn, husked and halved
- 2 lbs small potatoes
- 1 lb smoked sausage, cut into chunks
- Melted butter for serving
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Fill a large stockpot with 1 gallon of water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
Add the crab boil seasoning and stir until dissolved. Next, add the corn, potatoes and sausage. Cook for 10 minutes.
Using tongs, carefully add the cleaned crabs to the boiling pot. Make sure not to overcrowd.
Boil for 10-15 minutes with the lid on. Use tongs to stir and turn the crabs halfway through.
Crabs are fully cooked when the shells turn bright red-orange.
Use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the boiled crabs, corn, potatoes and sausage to a large platter.
Serve immediately with melted butter for dipping and lemon wedges. Enjoy picking apart the seasoned boiled crab using crab mallets and picks. Squeeze lemon over the meat.
4. How To Eat Blue Crab
Eating blue crab is a hands-on experience that requires a bit of skill but promises a rewarding taste. Follow these steps for a proper and enjoyable blue crab feast
Start by breaking off the claws and legs. Use a crab cracker or the back of a knife to crack open the shells and extract the meat.
Twist off the crab’s claws and use the same method to crack them open.
Flip the crab over and use your hands or a knife to break the body in half. Then gently remove the gills and any remaining innards.
Use a crab pick or your fingers to extract the sweet, succulent meat from the body.
Enjoy the flavorful crab meat on its own or dip it into melted butter or your favorite sauce.
With proper preparation and cooking, blue crab is a delectable seafood treat. Follow these instructions on cleaning, steaming, boiling and eating methods to make the most of fresh blue crab. Its sweet, succulent meat is worth the extra effort. Cook up a crab feast and enjoy this delicious shellfish at its very best.
